[2][3] While under construction, Ellerhusen had a large door built in order to allow him to move the statue outdoors to view how it would look in natural lighting.

Shipped to Oregon via the Panama Canal, the statue then traveled by rail to Salem, and then by truck to the capitol.

Then in September 2000, it was re-gilded for the fourth time by Lee Littlewood, Peter McKearnan and Nancy Comstock.

[6] Then in April 2002 solar panels were installed on the building to power the floodlights that illuminate the statue at night.

[10] Hollow inside, the bronze artwork weighs 8.5 short tons (7.7 t) with a gold leaf finish.

[2] The pioneer depicted holds a splitting axe in his right hand with the blade end facing the ground.